Chevron Meaning
/ˈʃɛvɹən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA V-shaped pattern; used in architecture, and as an insignia of military or police rank, on the sleeve.
nounA wide inverted V placed on a shield.
Sentence Examples
The chevron pattern is very popular.
The company logo features a chevron design.
The military uniform had a yellow chevron sewn on the sleeve.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The soldier's sleeve displayed a single black ____ indicating his rank.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ is a V-shaped pattern often seen on various road signs today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kápros Proto-Italic *kapros Latin caper Latin *capreus Vulgar Latin *capriō Old French chevronbor. Middle English cheveroun English chevron From Middle English cheveroun, from Old French chevron, the mark so called because it looks like rafters of a shallow roof, from Vulgar Latin *capriō, from Latin caper (“goat”), the likely connection between goats and rafters being the animal's horns.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It is pertinent to remember, however, that one of the greatest phoneticians, Jan Hus, used diacritics (in the form of points, which have later become chevrons in his own language), and that his alphabet is the most satisfactory for eastern Europe, since it has been officially adopted by the languages which use the Latin script."
— 1953, William James Entwistle, Aspects of Language, Faber and Faber, page 107:
"... as a thick finger with a gob of very slippery jelly or cream comes sliding down the crack now towards his asshole, chevroning the hairs along like topo lines up a river valley..."
— 1973, Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow:
"Bull fixed the claw under a batten, strained like a sailor at the capstan, shirt off, arms chevroned by elaborate tattoos."
— 1983, Allen Sillitoe, The Lost Flying Boat, →ISBN, page 118:
"Earlier, in glaring winter daylight, i'd first noticed thin lines chevroning off the edge of each eye into the taut skin of his cheeks..."
— 2003, Felice Picano, A House on the Ocean, a House on the Bay, →ISBN, page 55:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The soldier's sleeve displayed a single black ____ indicating his rank.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ is a V-shaped pattern often seen on various road signs today.